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Barak approves purchase of F-35s

Defense Minister Ehud Barak gave his approval Sunday for the purchase of the fifth-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) by the Israeli Air Force from the US.

"The F-35 is a fighter jet of the future that will enable Israel to continue its air superiority and mainatain its qualitative edge in the region," said Barak. "The plane will provide the air force with better long-range and short-range capabilities in a manner that will help ensure national security."

While the Pentagon has approved an Israeli request to purchase 75 aircraft, Israel plans – at the initial stage – to only buy around 20 JSFs. The deal is estimated to cost just under $3 billion. Barak will take the deal to the cabinet for final approval.

Two main obstacles have impeded Israeli procurement plans until now – the price of the aircraft, likely to reach just over $140 million, as well as US opposition to the integration of Israeli-designed technical systems into the plane.

Due to the high price of the aircraft, Israel will buy a first batch configured like the standard US version. The initial planes will begin arriving in Israel towards the end of 2015.

The second batch of the aircraft, likely to arrive in the second half of the decade, will be designed according to Israeli specifications and include Israeli-made systems.

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Israel to pay $2.7B for F-35I jets

Defense minister approves IDF, Defense Ministry recommendation to spend NIS 10 billion on 20 advanced stealth fighter aircraft, which will be received from US in five years. 'Planes will help fortify state security,' Barak says

Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday authorized the Israel Defense Forces and Defense Ministry recommendations to purchase 20 F-35I stealth fighter aircraft from the United States for $2.7 billion (roughly NIS 10 billion).

The F-35I is considered the most advanced combat jet. The main obstacle in signing the deal was its high cost and the cost of installing Israeli systems in it. The first jet is slated to arrive in Israel in 2015, however Israeli pilots will get a chance to hold training flights on it in the US a year earlier.

After Barak's approval, the Political-Security Cabinet has to sign off on the deal. Production will start after the Defense Ministry and US Congress have drafted a written agreement.

The defense minister expressed satisfaction with the launching of the deal and was confident that the new jets will enable Israel to maintain its aerial control in the region. "The plane will provide the Air Force with better abilities in close and distant circles in a way which will help fortify state security."

Defense Ministry Director-General Udi Shani noted that in addition to the operational aspect, the deal will allow the installation of Israeli systems in the planes not only for the Israel Air Force, but for additional clients - worth at least $4 billion. It is estimated that future investment in the Israeli industry could amount to $5 million.

Meanwhile, the IAF is considering where to place the new squadron. Despite the great strategic importance attributed to the F-35, IAF elements noted that the IDF with its current means is still equipped for its various missions.

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Delivery of the first F-35s, which are still not yet operational, is expected only in 2015, the paper said.
The price includes the cost of setting up a logistical infrastructure in Israel to allow local firms to assemble the fighter plane and manufacture spare parts for it.
Udi Shani, defence ministry director general, said a key element of the deal was an agreement which would allow Israeli industries to get involved in the assembly of the plane and the manufacture of spares."The considerations for approving the deal were not just about the operational abilities of the plane but the agreements for involving Israeli industries in the assembly of the plane," the ministry quoted him as saying.
Acquisition of the F-35, which is made by US aerospace and defence giant Lockheed Martin, will give Israel access to stealth technology that will provide it with air superiority over enemy anti-aircraft defences.

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Wenn die Israelis noch einen Blattgoldüberzug verlangt hätten hätte sie es wohl auch bekommen :lol: